Access improvements on the North Downs Way: a better trail for everyone 

Accessibility tagsOutdoor Activities tagsPutting Down Routes tags

16th April 2026

The North Downs Way National Trail winds through the Kent Downs and Surrey Hills National Landscapes, offering 153 miles of stunning scenery with a rich heritage — a place where walkers, wheelers, runners, cyclists, and horse riders can immerse themselves in ancient woodland, sweeping chalk landscapes, and centuries of history. The route passes through many protected sites of specific scientific interest and is home to several rare species which are hard to find anywhere else in the UK. 

Over the past year, a major programme of access improvements has been quietly transforming key sections of the trail, making it more accessible for more people all year round. 

We have invested more than £200,000 in the North Downs Way to improve access and ensure it remains a high quality and inclusive trail for generations to come. These projects have been identified and audited by trail users with different access needs and informed by their lived experience, as part of our Putting Down Routes project.  

Here’s a closer look at what’s been happening across Kent and Surrey. 

Kent Downs enhancements 

Kings Wood: Mountain Street to Coppice Oratory  – length improved: ~2 km 

Kings Wood is one of the most atmospheric stretches of the North Downs Way – through a 1500-acre forest, with one of the best bluebell woodlands in East Kent – but it is also one of the muddiest. Heavy clay soils, slippery chalk and flints combined with dense vegetation, and natural water flow have made some sections challenging in wet weather. Following this visit in 2023 with Gini Mitchell, founder of Wild with Wheels to assess an accessible route, as well as significant auditing and technical discussions, the recent works have sought to change this. 

What’s been done: 

• Vegetation clearance to restore the full width of the trail and improve natural drainage. 

• Resurfacing of muddy and rough patches, filling in dips and gulleys and creating a smoother, more durable surface. 

• Reprofiling the trail to encourage water runoff rather than pooling. 

• New accessible water bars and soakaways installed to manage drainage while maintaining access to keep the route usable year-round. 

The result is a noticeably more accessible section of trail, opening the path up to more users. Starting either from the village of Chilham heading towards Wye or the small parking area at the top of Mountain St on the edge of Kings Wood. On a clear day you can see Canterbury Cathedral from Coppice Oratory, one of our impressive Arts Trail sculptures.  

Lenham to Charing – length improved: 6.5 km 

This stretch of the North Downs Way is a favourite for its open views and rolling farmland, but tree roots, low spots, and persistent mud have often made navigating some sections tricky in periods of poor weather. This route is also a National Cycle Route and the Pilgrims Cycle Way so popular with walkers, wheelers, Horse Riders, and cyclists. The latest improvements have tackled these issues head-on. 

Key upgrades: 

• Vegetation clearance to open the corridor and improve sightlines and drainage. 

• Patch resurfacing, especially over tree roots and uneven ground. 

• Targeted surfacing in low or muddy areas to create a more stable surface. 
• New soakaways and water bars to improve drainage and reduce erosion. 

These changes make this section far more accessible, especially for less experienced walkers, wheelers or those tackling the trail in winter. 

Surrey Hills enhancements 

Multiple projects across the North Downs Way in Surrey 

Around one third of the North Downs Way runs through The Surrey Hills and these sections are some of the most heavily used, passing through iconic viewpoints and popular countryside. To keep pace with visitor numbers and weather impacts, a series of smaller but no less vital projects have been completed.

Improvements include: 

• Six targeted surfacing and drainage projects to address long‑standing problem spots. 

• Vegetation management to restore the full width of the trail and improve water drainage. 

• Raising trail levels in wet weather hotspots to prevent waterlogging. 

• Replacing damaged signage and installing new waymarking across the entire Surrey section. 

These upgrades not only improve accessibility but also enhance the overall experience — clearer navigation, safer footing, and a more resilient trail. 

Why these improvements matter 

The North Downs Way is more than a path — it’s a gateway to nature, heritage, and wellbeing. By investing in drainage, surfacing, vegetation management, and signage, the trail team is ensuring: 

• Year round accessibility, for more people, even in the wettest months 

• Reduced erosion, protecting the landscape for the long term 

• A safer, more enjoyable experience for all users 

• Better resilience in the face of increasing footfall and changing weather patterns 

In future years we aim to use this funding to continue to target less accessible sections by improving surfacing and drainage and working with landowners to remove barriers or install more accessible gates and furniture to ensure the trail is as accessible as it can be to as many people as it can be all year round.  

Ready to explore? 

If you haven’t visited the North Downs Way recently, now is a perfect time to rediscover it. Whether you’re tackling a short circular walk or planning a multiday adventure, you’ll notice the difference underfoot — and appreciate the care that has gone into preserving this remarkable National Trail. 

You can plan your visit to all of the above stretches of the North Downs Way using our online routes 

We’d like to thank Gini Mitchell and Wild with Wheels, Kent Community Rail Partnership, Disabled Ramblers, Surrey Hills Society and our colleagues working in the Countryside Access Teams in Surrey, Medway and Kent. Also, a big shout out to our fabulous contractors who worked through the wind, frost and the rain to deliver these projects. 

Funded by DEFRA Access for All Funding and Natural England. 

Back to all blog articles